I recently encountered a tech problem with my local network. One day I just could not access the internet with my laptop. I checked my desktop, and I had no problem with it. It was frustrating. The network was out of sync. And I needed to resolve the issue.
After some troubleshooting and research, I discovered the problem. Here’s my layman’s understanding of the issue. The system works in this way: Each computer or device is assigned what is called an IP address. This is like assigning a specific spot for each device in the network. With the proper address each computer is able to join the network and, through that, access the internet.
My network uses the automatic assigning of IP addresses. What happened is that, somehow, two devices were assigned exactly the same address. The situation is described as an IP address conflict. It was like two computers were occupying the same space, trying to use the same channel in the network to access the internet. The result was that both devices could not properly connect to the internet. As it were, they were getting in each other’s way. They were in conflict with each other. The only solution was to reassign the IP address of at least one of the devices. And, by God’s grace, I was able to figure out how to do it. Now all is well. Each device is functioning properly. And the network is in sync once again.
Once more, the experience presented an analogy to a spiritual truth. Scripture tells us that the church functions best when we acknowledge our God-given diversity and allow each one to fulfill one’s own specific role within the body of Christ. When we try to fill a role that is not ours, we may find ourselves occupying other people’s place in the body, getting in each other’s way. This leads to unnecessary “conflict,” and every one would end up failing to function properly, causing a disruption to overall functioning of the body. The solution is simple: fulfill your own role to the best of your ability, and thereby you enable others to fulfill their roles.
“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4.16 TNIV; see also Romans 12.3-8).
—Keith Y. Jainga